Author: Data and Research Manager

Superior is one of the more rapidly warming lakes, study finds

It’s among the more rapidly warming lakes, scientists warn in study.

The following article by Jennifer Brooks appeared in the December 17, 2015, StarTribune:

Lift_Bridge_Lifted,_DuluthThe world’s lakes are warming up — even frigid Lake Superior — scientists warn.

Dozens of researchers pooled decades’ worth of data from hundreds of lakes and concluded that the world’s lakes are warming even more rapidly than the oceans or the atmosphere. The warmer waters threaten fish populations, ecosystems and fresh water supplies around the globe.

Closer to home, University of Minnesota Duluth Professor Jay Austin says the thick sheets of ice that blanketed Lake Superior for the past two winters did nothing to change the fact that Superior, like the other Great Lakes, is growing ever warmer.

“Lake Superior is one of the more rapidly warming lakes” among the 235 lakes in the study, Austin said. A two-degree temperature shift can mean the difference between an iced-over Superior or an ice-free Continue reading “Superior is one of the more rapidly warming lakes, study finds”

You Are More Than 7 Times As Likely To Be Killed By A Right-Wing Extremist Than By Muslim Terrorists

Klu Kluc Klan Natl ArchiveThe following article by Ian Millhiser appeared on the ThinkProgress.org November 30, 2015:

Friday afternoon, one week after elected officials all over the country tried toblock Syrian refugees from entering their states in an apparent effort to fight terrorism, a white man in Colorado committed what appears to be an act of terrorism in a Planned Parenthood clinic.

Though the details of Robert Lewis Dear’s motives for killing three people in the clinic and injuring nine others are still being revealed, Dear reportedly told law enforcement “no more baby parts,” an apparent reference to heavily edited videos produced by the Center for Medical Progress, which numerous politicians have cited to falsely claim that Planned Parenthood sells “aborted baby parts.” Dear’s actions, in other words, appear to be an act of politically motivated terrorism directed against an institution widely reviled by conservatives. Continue reading “You Are More Than 7 Times As Likely To Be Killed By A Right-Wing Extremist Than By Muslim Terrorists”

Climate Talks Must Heed the Call of Pope Francis and the Multifaith Movement

Pope FrancisThe following article by Myriam Alexander-Kearns and Claire Markham was posted by the Center for American Progress:

In May, the Vatican released “Laudato Si,” Pope Francis’ second encyclical and the first papal encyclical to focus on the urgent and politically challenging issue of climate change. The document—which added to the impressive history of multifaith environmental activism—was written to inspire, according to Pope Francis, a “global consensus” at this month’s Paris climate talks “so that future generations will not have to suffer the effects of our ill-advised delays.”

With today’s opening of the Paris talks—officially called the United Nations’ 21st Conference of the Parties—it is imperative that global leaders seize this opportunity to advance common goals for the preservation and protection of the planet, vulnerable communities, and all nations. Continue reading “Climate Talks Must Heed the Call of Pope Francis and the Multifaith Movement”

Income Inequality Makes The Rich More Scrooge-Like, Study Finds

Handout ChangeThe following article by Melissa Healy with the Los Angeles Times appeared on the National Memo website, posting on November 24, 2015:

As the annual “season of giving” dawns, a new study finds that stark income inequity — a dramatically rising trend in the United States — makes the “haves” less generous toward others.

Higher-income people were less inclined to be generous both when they came from states where income inequality is high and when they were made to believe that there was a sharp divide between rich and poor, a new study found. And they were less charitable in both cases than were low-income people. Continue reading “Income Inequality Makes The Rich More Scrooge-Like, Study Finds”

GOP Racist Messaging

Screen Shot 2015-11-23 at 9.27.43 PM“Yesterday the Minnesota 7th Congressional District Republican Party posted the following statement on their Facebook page: “MN #‎DFL now propose a “special session” to deal with their self-created “#‎Negroproblem”.

 You don’t have to look far to find ignorant hate speech masquerading as acceptable party messaging.  However, this is not the first time the Minnesota Republican Party and their affiliates have posted racially insensitive material.

“The GOP is clearly out of touch on issues of race here in Minnesota and around the country.  Regrettably these comments have become commonplace in the Republican Party  and it should be no surprise that they are now an accepted and normal part of their conversation.

 While our community is still struggling with the death of a young man and trying to find answers for his family, the Republican Party of Minnesota decided to chime in with racist and bigoted comments. There is absolutely no place for this kind of ugly language in our state and we call on Chairman Downey to apologize to the people of Minnesota for the racist and bigoted comment from the Minnesota 7th Congressional District Republican Party.”  

Why Gender Equality is Good for Everyone — Men Included

Please take a moment to watch the TED Talk below by Michael Kimmel. Here’s TED’s synopsis:

Yes, we all know it’s the right thing to do. But Michael Kimmel makes the surprising, funny, practical case for treating men and women equally in the workplace and at home. It’s not a zero-sum game, but a win-win that will result in more opportunity and more happiness for everybody.

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